Closure for tanks, radiators, and the like



Jan. 9, K FRANKUN CLOSURE FOR TANKS, RADIATORS, AND THE LIKE Filed Dec.9, 1952 i 2 Sheets-Sheet l m MKQM Jan. 9, 1934. FRANKUN CLOSURE FORTANKS, RADIATORS, AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 9, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H H{2 I r\ m & 4. 1/ 6 4a Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES CLOSURE FOR-TANKS, RADIATORS, AND

. THE LIKE Lester K. Franklin, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 9, 1982. Serial No. 646,527

6 Claims. (01. 2202l) The present invention relates to a closure fortanks, containers and the like, and has for one of its objects theprovision of a closure of the character indicated, preferably consistingof but three main parts to constitute an article of manufacture ofrigid, sturdy construction.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a device such as specified,having a base preferably provided with means for attachment to the neckof a tank or the like, which base also functions to hingedly andswivelly support the cap or lid of the closure.

Still a further purpose of the invention is to construct a closure capwhich is not only hingedly and swivelly supported on the base, but inaddition is capable of being securely locked thereto.

Yet another object is to provide a structurally integral base for aclosure cap, swivelly and hingedly supported thereon and, in addition,to provide means for positioning a rubber gasket in the base for makinga seal with the cap, as well as supplying means for securing the base tothe neck of a tank, automobile radiator and the like.

A further desideratum of the invention is the construction of a closureof the type specified, in which the hinge between the base and closurecap is materially relieved of all strain and pressure therebetween inlocked condition.

The above and other objects and purposes will be apparent from the moredetailed description hereinafter appearing, when taken together with thedrawings forming a part hereof and to which reference is nowspecifically made, and in which Fig. l is a side elevational view of theneck of a tank, such as the radiator of an automobile, showing myimproved closure operatively positioned thereon with its cap in closedor locked condition, as well as the cap in open position, as indicatedby the dotted lines;'

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, showing themanner in which the locking lugs of the cap and base cooperate to lockthe former to the latter;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my improved closure showing the cap or lid inopen or unlocked position with respect to the base;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2, illustrating themanner in which the cap cooperates with a gasket positioned on the baseto form a seal for preventing the escape of the contents of the tank orradiator to which the closure is secured;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 2, and, inaddition to the showing of Fig. 4, illustrates the cooperation of thecap and base to lock these parts toeach other;

Fig. 6 is a view on line 66 of Fig. 4, showing how a ring is secured tothe closure and how it serves to lock the latter to the spout of aradiator, tank or the like;

Fig. '7 is a sectional View of my device with the cover removed, showinga modified manner of securing my closure to a spout;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the structure of Referring first to Fig. 1there is illustrated the neck or spout S of a radiator of an automobileshowing my improved closure, generally designated as C positionedthereon. While for purposes of illustration my closure is shown asmounted on the neck or spout of an automobile radiator, it is desired toemphasize thatit is equally adapted for use as a'closure for a gasolinetank or in fact any opening or aperture of a container or receptacle.The character B represents the base of my improved closure C on which ishingedly and swivelly mounted a closure cap or lid L shown in Fig. 1 inboth open and locked position on the base.

Said base B is preferably formed of a collar, of circular outline,having a pair ofadjacent shoulders or seats 9 and 10 for a purpose to belater described. arranged in stepped relationship, that is, seat 9 isbelow the general level of the collar and seat 10 somewhat lower than 9.Projecting towards the interior of the base, away from the seat 10,

It will be noted that the seats are within a central opening, are a pairof ears 11--11'. Each of these has a threaded aperture 12l2',respectively, for the reception of screws 13. The latter extend throughthreaded holes 14-15 in a spout locking ring 16, best seen in Fig. 6,the ring having integrally cast therewith a pair of lockinglugs 17'l8which extend diametrically from the circumference of the ring and serveto hold a washer 17 In assembling this portion of the device, the screws13 are inserted within the threaded apertures of the ears, the washer 13put in place, and the screws then fed through the holes in the spoutlocking ring until the latter rests firmly against the bottom surface ofthe ears. In attaching the base of the closure on a spout S of aradiator, the lugs 1'718 are inserted through oppositely arranged slots19 cut in a flange 20 extending inwardly from the spout edge. It willnow be seen that by giving the base B of the closure a half turn, thelugs will be secure the base thereto, and that the washer 1'1 will forma seal between the closure base and the spout. swivelly mounted withinthe base on the seat 9 thereof, is a hinge ring or plate 21 providedwith an elongated segmental cutout portion 22 at its edge, as well aswith two similar spaced but smaller slots 22 and 22 Protruding inwardlyfrom the base to extend over the seat 10 and ring 21 are a plurality ofspaced tongues or projections 23, 23 and 23 It will now be seen that inorder to mount the hinge ring 21 on the seat 9 it is but necessary tobring the slots 22, 22 and 22 into registration with the tongues orprojections 23, 23 and 23 and by then rotating the hinge ring to breakthe registration, said ring will be maintained in position on the seat,In order to removably hold the ring in place, a small stop screw or thelike 24 is screwed into the seat, the head of the screw also overhangingthe ring. The arrangement of the parts just described is such that theextent of movement of the ring is regulated by the stop screw 24 whichcontacts the edges of the ring defining the slot 22, the two extremepositions being shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be observed that inneither of these positions are the tongues 23, 23 and 23 in registrationwith the slots of the ring, thereby precluding removal thereof, Withoutunscrewing the stop member 24.

Hingedly secured to ring 21 is a closure cap or lid Ldhaving an interiorrim 25 cast integrally therewith and extending therefrom for cooperationin locked condition of the lid on the base with a rubber gasket 26resting on the seat 10, whereby toeffectively seal the contents of theradiator R therewithin. The lid is also provided with a pair of inwardlyprotruding locking projections or lips 27 for cooperating with a pair ofspaced cam locking ribs 28 formed on the base 13. The manner of lockingthe lid to the base will now be obvious. The lid is moved about itshinge towards the base, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 3.After the lid has contacted the base, the former is rotated, whichcauses the ring 21 to move from the position shown in Fig. 3 to theposition of Fig. 2, so that the lips 27 engage the cam locking ribs 28to tightly draw the rim 25 into contact with the gasket 26 to firmlyseal the radiator contents therewithin and simultaneously lock the lidto the base. In this position the hinge between the base and lid ismaterially relieved of much strain and pressure. To open the lid it isof course merely necessary to rotate it in an opposite direction fromthat described to thus disengage parts 27 and 28 and permitting swingingthe lid about its hinge to open position. In lieu of the locking ring 16for securing my novel closure to a spout or a tank or the like, the baseB may be interiorly threaded as shown at 30 in Fig. '7 for threadingengagement with a corresponding thread on the spout S. In this instancethe ears 11, the screws 13 and the locking ring 16 are unnecessary.

From the above description it will be seen that there has been provideda novel closure of simple construction, few parts, yet well adapted toperform the functions specified. Also it will be obvious that variousmodifications may be made in the specific construction shown withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and it is my intention tocover all such modifications a base, said base having its upper faceprovided with a seat and a locking lug at its edge, a hinge ring,cooperating means carried by the ring and base for swivelly positioningthe ring on the seat, stop means for limiting the swivelling movement ofthe ring, a cap hingedly connected to the ring, and means carried by thecap for engagement with the lug of the base to lock the cap thereto whenthe ring is moved to one of its extreme positions against the stop.

2. A closure for tanks and the like comprising a base, said baseprovided with a pair of spaced, stepped seats positioned therewithin, ahinge ring mounted on one of said seats and a gasket within the other,means for swivelly mounting said ring, a stop carried by the base fordetermining the extent of movementof the ring, a cap hingedly connectedto the ring, locking lugs carried by the base and cap, an interior rimWithin the cap, said ring and lugs cooperating to lock the cap on thebasewith the rim in contact with said gasket.

3. A closure for tanks and the like comprising a base having its upperface recessed to provide an annularly extending seat, a member arrangedfor movement within the seat in a plane substantially parallel thereto,means upstanding from the upper face of the base and cooperating withthe member for holding it in position on its seat, said member having acap hingedly secured thereto.

4. A closure for tanks and the like comprising a base having its upperface recessed to provide an annularly extending seat, a lug upstandingfrom the base and having a portion overhanging the seat, a memberarranged to rest within the seat for movement in a plane substantiallyparallel theretoand beneath the overhanging portion of the lug, said lugarranged to hold the member in position on the seat, and the memberhaving a cap hinged thereto.

5. A closure for tanks and the like comprising a base having itsupperface recessed to provide an annularly extending seat, a lugupstanding from the base and having a portion overhanging the seat, amember arranged to rest within the seat for movement in a planesubstantially parallel thereto and beneath the overhanging portion ofthe lug, the latter arranged to hold the member in position on the seat,said memher having a cap hinged thereto, and a second lugcooperatingwith the cap to lock the same to the base upon movement ofthe member on its seat.

6. A closure for-tanks and the like comprising a base having its upperface recessed to provide a pair of concentrically arranged seats, amember mounted for movement within one of the seats in a planesubstantially parallel thereto, means for holding the member in positionon its seat, a gasket within the other seat, a cap hinged to the member,means for locking the cap to the base, said cap having means forpressing upon the gasketwhen locked to the base.

' LESTER K. FRANKLIN.

